From UFOs to psychic powers and government conspiracies, history is riddled with unexplained events. You can turn back now or learn the Stuff They Don't Want You To Know ... an audio podcast from iHeartRadio and HowStuffWorks.

It sounds like a quandary straight out of science fiction -- given the opportunity, would you erase your own painful or traumatic memories? Join Ben and Matt as they separate science fiction from science fact (along with the fuzzy border in between), delving into the murky mechanics of memory, the treacherous way our brains handle recollections, and the profound implications posed by living in a world where memories can be artificially created, monetized, or erased. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://news.iheart.com/podcast-advertisers

From ancient stories of shapeshifters to works of fiction like "The Island of Dr. Moreau", humanity has always been fascinating with the line between people and non-human animals -- but modern technology may finally allow us to create real-life chimeras. In fact, it already has. The only question here is how far scientists have actually gone in this regard (and whether that's something they don't want us to know). Learn more about your ad-choices at https://news.iheart.com/podcast-advertisers

In the 1990s international media was captivated by a bizarre epidemic of church arsons in Norway, often attributing these crimes to so-called Satanic groups and individuals in Norway's black metal scene. This was wrapped up in the larger phenomenon of "Satanic Panic", a widespread fear that shadowy, devil-worshipping cabals secretly control human civilization. So is there any truth to the story? Tune in as the guys explore the true story of the infamous Scandinavian church burnings. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://news.iheart.com/podcast-advertisers

Since the late 1990s the former British colony of Hong Kong has existed in a tense, liminal state with mainland China. The region is governed by the "one country, two systems" policy, yet a recently-proposed extradition bill has triggered massive, ongoing protests as the citizens of the region fear their rights will increasingly erode under the thumb of the PRC. Both pro-autonomy and pro-Beijing forces are convinced a conspiracy is afoot -- so which, if any, of their conspiracy theories are true? Learn more about your ad-choices at https://news.iheart.com/podcast-advertisers

Religions are as old as humanity, and predate the written word. They've also been home to a great many secrets -- in fact, some religions have been predicated on secrecy, and others are amalgamations of two preexisting belief systems. Join the guys as they explore the strange rise of religions, the ways in which they have melded over time and, ultimately, ask whether there are any real secret religions active in the world today. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://news.iheart.com/podcast-advertisers

On March 13th, 1997, thousands of people in Nevada, Arizona and Mexico reported seeing bizarre lights in the evening sky -- today, more than two decades later, the Phoenix Lights are still considered to be one of the most significant UFO sightings in recent history. But what exactly were they? What really happened that night in March? Tune in to learn more. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://news.iheart.com/podcast-advertisers

Across the course of his strange and checkered career, pilot and smuggler Barry Seal was called many things: An informant, a criminal, an asset for America's alphabet soup of intelligence agencies and more. He met an ignoble end in February of 1986, when he was fatally shot outside the Salvation Army facility where he'd been ordered to work in court-mandated public service. However, it turns out the official explanation of his death hasn't convinced everyone -- to this day, journalists, theorists and more continue to ask: Who really killed Barry Seal? Learn more about your ad-choices at https://news.iheart.com/podcast-advertisers

Born Nur Maznah Binti Ismail in Kangar, Perlis, the musician Mona Fandey achieved national success with her song Ku Nyanyikan Lagu Ini in 1987 -- yet her career seemed destined to slowly fade away, with Mona and her husband living out their lives in comfortable obscurity. Until, that is, in 1993, when Mona Fandey became the prime suspect in a gruesome murder that led many people to believe she'd secretly been an evil bomoh, practicing the art of dark sorcery for decades before finally being brought to justice. So what's the truth? Was Fandey mentally ill? Was she framed? Or was there something more sinister and sorcerous afoot? Learn more about your ad-choices at https://news.iheart.com/podcast-advertisers

Earlier this year the guys traced the rise of the enigmatic financier and child abuser Jeffrey Epstein, discovering a quagmire of crime, corruption and cover-ups implicating some of the world’s most powerful individuals. It seemed Epstein’s connections effectively placed him above the law - at least, that is, until renewed public scrutiny and criminal investigations found Epstein arrested once again and, this time, placed in a real prison. Many speculated Epstein would never go to trial. On August 10th, he was found dead in what the media described as an “apparent suicide”. So what happened? Learn more about your ad-choices at https://news.iheart.com/podcast-advertisers

Love it or hate it, Facebook is one of the world's most popular social media platforms. Over a relatively short span of time, the company has exploded into numerous areas of human interaction (and created no small amount of controversy along the way). In May of 2009, Facebook experimented with a virtual currency concept called Facebook Credits. It didn't last long, but there may be a new scheme on the horizon. Join the guys as they explore the fact, fiction and conspiracy surrounding the Facebook Libra, the proposed virtual currency that -- according to critics -- could allow this social media platform to function like a central bank. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://news.iheart.com/podcast-advertisers

From the late 1970s to the 1980s, the US Government paid for intelligence officers to undergo weeklong training sessions at a remote place called the Monroe Institute. Training sessions themselves aren't particularly abnormal -- but these officers weren't learning new languages, the latest news about satellites and so on. Instead, the Institute was using hypnosis to teach them astral projection, ESP and clairvoyance. The news went public via a declassified CIA document released in 1984, but questions remain: Was this all a waste of money? Or was there something else to the story? Learn more about your ad-choices at https://news.iheart.com/podcast-advertisers

As police officers, researchers and other professionals can attest, delving into the darkness can take an unexpected — and heavy — toll. In today’s episode, the guys sit down with returning guest Scott Benjamin to learn more about his journey through the world of true crime, the unanticipated consequences of staring into the abyss of human depravity and more in his new podcast Monster Presents: Insomniac. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://news.iheart.com/podcast-advertisers

How did a young, struggling German immigrant build one of the country's most successful criminal empires? In this live episode, the guys join with Holly Frey, cohost of the award-winning podcast Stuff You Missed in History Class, to explore the life, times and reign of America's first mob boss, Marm Mandelbaum. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://news.iheart.com/podcast-advertisers

Henry Kissinger has worn many hats over the course of his long life. To some, his geopolitical career is a study in the ruthless, brilliant application of realpolitik. To others, he is a war criminal responsible for massive waves of death in multiple countries across the globe. Join the guys as they delve into the strange, at times disturbing career of Henry Kissinger -- including the Stuff He Doesn't Want You To Know. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://news.iheart.com/podcast-advertisers

Did the real Paul McCartney die in a car accident, only to be replaced by a doppelgänger? What about the similar stories surrounding Taylor Swift, Avril Lavigne, Saddam Hussein and more? Join the guys as they explore the facts, fiction and plausibility of celebrity body doubles, replacements and more. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://news.iheart.com/podcast-advertisers

What does the science say about climate change? Why do some people seem dead-set against the idea that human beings are driving rises in temperature, pollution rates and so on? Join the guys as they sit down with award-winning journalist Amy Westervelt, creator and host of the podcast Drilled, to explore the rise of climate change denialism -- and the identities of the people and industries funding it. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://news.iheart.com/podcast-advertisers

There have always been conspiracy theories about secret structures on the lunar surface, and in modern decades numerous fringe researchers have alleged that various governments have already built some sort of permanent structure on the moon. It sounds pretty out there, but could there be a grain of truth to the stories? Tune in to learn more about Project Horizon. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://news.iheart.com/podcast-advertisers

In 1982, in Titusville, Florida, construction worker Steve Vandejagt happened across a skull amid the muck and debris of the job site. And this was only the beginning of the mystery. Steve had accidentally uncovered one of the oldest gravesites in the United States, proof of an ancient, mysterious culture that existed more than 7,000 years ago. Join the guys as they dive into the story of the Windover Bog Bodies. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://news.iheart.com/podcast-advertisers

Ads are ubiquitous on the internet, and even if you use an ad blocker or two, you're bound to see a few things slip through. Luckily, those ads don't really give advertisers any new information about you unless you interact with them... right? Not so fast. Eye tracking technology can glean an enormous amount about your attention, as well as your reactions to a given image or piece of language, just by watching how you watch, gaze or glance at an ad. So how much can they learn, exactly? Does eye tracking allow companies to, in some sense, read your thoughts? Learn more about your ad-choices at https://news.iheart.com/podcast-advertisers

Until the day we're able to manufacture affordable, reliable organs from scratch, organ transplants will remain the only hope for millions of sick and dying people across the planet. For this reason, organs have been a big business for decades -- and not all aspects of the business are legal. For years rumors have been brewing about the organ trade in China. Why is the waiting time for a transplant so low? Where are all these organs actually coming from? The answer may terrify you. Strap in as the guys dive into the stuff China doesn't want you to know about the organ trade. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://news.iheart.com/podcast-advertisers

Flying saucers are perhaps the most iconic genre of UFO -- since the 1940s they've become the mainstay vehicles for extraterrestrials in all sorts of fictional stories. But, according to declassified files, the US Government was intensely interested in building some flying saucers of its own. So far did they get? Learn more about your ad-choices at https://news.iheart.com/podcast-advertisers

Through the process of vaccination, millions of people have avoided serious (at times fatal) medical conditions, but opposition to the practice began almost immediately after vaccinations became widespread. And in the modern day the anti-vaccination movement has seemed to gain more ground than before -- so what's going on here? Join the guys as they dive into the history of vaccination, the claims of the anti-vaxx movement and why some people insist there's a conspiracy afoot. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://news.iheart.com/podcast-advertisers

While the vast majority of people identifying as Satanists don’t buy into the idea of a nefarious, evil entity opposed to the forces of good, there are a few genuine theistic Satanists out there. Join the guys as they explore the strange story of the organization known as “The Nine Angles”. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://news.iheart.com/podcast-advertisers

What happens when you immerse yourself in true crime, night after night, digging deeper into the lives of serial killers? What are the consequences to a person's psyche? From iHeartRadio and TenderfootTV comes a new podcast about twisted serial killers and one man's journey through their stories. Listen to the first two episodes of Monster Presents: Insomniac here. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://news.iheart.com/podcast-advertisers

David Icke is one of the most well-known, controversial people in the world of conspiracy theories. In this episode, the guys speak with Mr. Icke for a first-hand look at everything from his former career to his beliefs on the nature of reality, the accusations of his critics and more. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://news.iheart.com/podcast-advertisers

In October of 2012 a huge explosion rocked Camp Minden, a little-known government compound located in Louisiana. The explosion shattered windows 4 miles away. A 7,000-foot mushroom cloud contaminated the area and eyewitnesses understandably wondered whether they'd been the victims of a nuclear detonation. So what exactly did happen? Tune in to learn more about the conspiracy afoot at Camp Minden. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://news.iheart.com/podcast-advertisers

German immigrant John Jacob Astor was the first multimillionaire in the United States, and his descendants would go on to play prominent roles in the country's history -- but how exactly did he get this enormous fortune? According to the official story, he started off in the fur trade and later expanded into real estate. Yet for more than a century people rumors about the real origin of Astor's wealth have been floating around the fringes of conversation -- what if he wasn't a legitimate businessman in the beginning, but instead engaged in less savory endeavors? Learn more about your ad-choices at https://news.iheart.com/podcast-advertisers

When most people think of pyramids, we imagine the pyramids of Egypt -- but they're by no means the only example of this ancient architecture. In this episode, the guys explore more stories of strange, lesser known pyramids, concentrating on the increasingly bizarre claims of pyramids hidden in the planet's northern climes, from Alaska to Antarctica. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://news.iheart.com/podcast-advertisers

For years, fast radio bursts have mystified astronomers across the planet. These millisecond-long blips of intense, unexplained radio signals pop up all over the sky, temporarily outshining radio pulsars despite being perhaps a million times farther away. Before 2013, many astrophysicists doubted that they even existed. Now their existence is undeniable — but what exactly are they? Learn more about your ad-choices at https://news.iheart.com/podcast-advertisers

The local authorities only discovered the elaborate series of tunnels under Danbury Road when the house above them was burning down. When brilliant and disturbed former hacker Daniel Beckwitt felt the collapse of civilization was imminent, he decided to make a plan, building a series of secret underground tunnels beneath his home in Maryland. As the construction continued, he employed various people to help dig out the structure, living beneath the ground for days at a time. Join the guys to learn more about this strange story about hackers, doomsday prepping, nuclear war, hidden tunnels, fire and what may arguably be murder. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://news.iheart.com/podcast-advertisers

Have you given the guys a call lately? If so, tune in: You just might be on the air. Join the gang as they respond to some of your fellow listeners' most intriguing -- and in some cases, strangest -- calls. Want to be part of the next one? Just give us a ring at 1-833-STDWYTK. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://news.iheart.com/podcast-advertisers

On paper, the US government is a meritocracy. This means that, unlike older monarchical systems of government, state and federal positions are earned on the basis of individual talent, experience and skill, rather than being awarded as an entitlement due to a person's parentage. However, in practice, this doesn't always seem to be the case. Nepotism makes the world go 'round, and it seems even top US officials aren't immune to the siren call of unearned favoritism. While numerous critics have disparaged the practice, Presidents from the 1800s to the modern day tried (with varying success) to install their family members in positions of power -- and some people still wonder whether this is actually legal. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://news.iheart.com/podcast-advertisers

Located in Staffordshire, England, the Shepherd's Monument is a bas-relief recreation of Nicolas Poussin's painting “Shepherds of Arcadia”. However, the sculpture has several key differences -- one of which has baffled historians, experts and others for centuries: What's that mysterious inscription? What on Earth could it mean? Tune in to learn more. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://news.iheart.com/podcast-advertisers

While serial killers may seem like a relatively new phenomenon, the human species hasn't changed as much as we all might like to think. Join the guys as they dive into the mysterious, grisly stories of proven and suspected serial killers from ancient civilizations across the planet. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://news.iheart.com/podcast-advertisers

When Princess Diana died as a result of a horrendous car crash in Paris, the United Kingdom was shaken to the core. As more details emerged, some people became convinced that Diana's death was not an accident. Why? Learn more about your ad-choices at https://news.iheart.com/podcast-advertisers

Lost materials, dropped threads, forgotten stories. Ephemera in the way that it’s intertwined in our lives. All those things, tangible and intangible, that you wish you could take just one more look at before they vanish into the past. Listen wherever podcasts are found and learn more at www.ephemeral.show Learn more about your ad-choices at https://news.iheart.com/podcast-advertisers

If you live in the global west, odds are you haven't heard of Aleksandr Dugin. The author of "Foundations of Geopolitics" doesn't have a global profile, and he holds no official position in the Russian government. However, despite his lack of official government credentials, western officials are increasingly worried that this author may be at the helm of Russia's global chess game, from the annexation of Crimea to proven interference in election systems and more. So who is the mysterious Aleksandr Dugin -- a quack? A genius? Listen in to learn why some believe he may be a new Rasputin. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://news.iheart.com/podcast-advertisers

For most of its history, outsiders saw Keith Raniere's NXIVM as a multi-level marketing and self-help company -- a little eccentric, sure, but overall a harmless hobby for those involved. This all changed when allegations of sexual abuse, financial manipulation and cult-like practices emerged, exposing a conspiracy encompassing everyone from everyday civilians to A-list actors. So what was it like inside NXIVM, before the group's inner workings were exposed? Join the guys as they sit down with musician Jon Bryant to talk about his first-hand experience with this organization, as well as how surviving the ordeal informs his art and philosophy today. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://news.iheart.com/podcast-advertisers

Over the years, people have described Wikileaks founder Julian Assange as everything from a hero to a villain -- and, in recent years, a captive. From 2012 to April of 2019, Assange lived in the Ecuadorian Embassy of London, unable to leave the grounds for fear of instant arrest and possible extradition to the United States. This April he was removed from the embassy. So what happened? More importantly, what happens next? Learn more about your ad-choices at https://news.iheart.com/podcast-advertisers

While the United States is home to some of the world's most advanced medical technology, it's no secret that it has a terrible healthcare system -- millions of people are one bad diagnosis away from bankruptcy or death if they cannot pay the insurance companies controlling their access to life-saving treatments, medicines and therapy. Yet the US also has the world's highest incarceration rate, with over 700 people out of every 100,000 currently serving time -- what happens when they get sick? Tune in to learn the Stuff They Don't Want You To Know about healthcare in prison. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://news.iheart.com/podcast-advertisers

In 1967 the tiny fishing community of Shag Harbor became ground zero for one of the most infamous UFO sightings in Canadian history. More than 50 years later, people still haven't forgotten the bizarre series of lights they saw that October night... but what exactly were they? Listen in to learn more about the mysterious event known as Canada's Roswell. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://news.iheart.com/podcast-advertisers

Ticketmaster was founded in 1976, and since that time it's grown to be one of the most powerful forces in the industry -- whether you've gone to symphonies, concerts or plays, odds are you've run into Ticketmaster while trying to get your seats for the show. Yet numerous people allege that this company wields enormous, dangerous influence over artist, venues and fans alike. Tune in to learn more about the rise of Ticketmaster. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://news.iheart.com/podcast-advertisers

Whenever you tune into the news nowadays, it seems like there's yet another tragic disaster on the airwaves. And, over recent years, some fringe researchers have been arguing that disaster has a season -- not some part of the year wherein disasters are naturally more likely to occur, but a time of the year when certain forces are purposefully creating tragedies. Listen in to learn more. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://news.iheart.com/podcast-advertisers

During the hectic news cycle of 2015, numerous stories popped up in headlines, only to disappear as soon as another event (or scandal) came to light. One story in particular remains enigmatic in the modern day: During the investigation into the Clinton email scandal, an FBI report found that "There was a powerful group of very high-ranking State [Department] officials that some referred to as 'The 7th Floor Group' or 'The Shadow Government.'" What exactly did this mean? Was there really a shadow government operating in Washington? Tune in to learn more. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://news.iheart.com/podcast-advertisers

Earlier, the guys explored the fact, fiction and speculation surrounding MKULTRA programs, during which the Central Intelligence Agency financed and directed multiple illegal experiments on US citizens. The program was officially disbanded before it became public knowledge, but thousands of people aren't buying the official story -- instead, they say, insidious operations continued throughout the country. Where do these claims come from? Is there any proof? Learn more about your ad-choices at https://news.iheart.com/podcast-advertisers

The rumors spread for decades: Somewhere in the US, our own government was conducting dangerous, heinous and illegal experiments on citizens from all walks of life. This conspiratorial tale seemed set to remain little more than an urban legend -- until, that is, intrepid reporters and members of Congress managed to expose MKULTRA, the insidious series of experiments run by the Central Intelligence Agency with almost no oversight. In the decades since the revelation, MKULTRA has been featured in countless works of fiction, documentaries and more. But what exactly was it? Join the guys as they separate the MKULTRA fact from fiction. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://news.iheart.com/podcast-advertisers

It sounds like a darkly comic tale worthy of Vonnegut -- Rodney Hyden, a down-on-his-luck Florida businessman, hears a modern urban legend from Julian, the local town hippy: Years back, the story goes, Julian was living the simple life in Puerto Rico when a huge parcel of cocaine washed ashore. Not being sure what to do, Julian buried the drugs and more or less let them be. As the 2008 crash put Rodney in dire financial straits, he began assembling a team to retrieve the cocaine in a mission that was a combination of a heist, a search for buried treasure, and an international drug deal. Join the guys as they sit down with director Theo Love for a peek behind the curtain of this strange, true story. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://news.iheart.com/podcast-advertisers

Across the span of modern human history, the Arctic has been a desolate, dangerous wasteland of freezing ice, inaccessible waters and more than a bit of myth. Yet as the ice recedes, countries and corporations around the globe are already gearing up to take possession of the region's future trade routes -- and billions of dollars' worth of previously untouchable resources. The pieces are already on the chessboard, with multiple groups accusing each other of cover-ups and deceptive tactics. One questions looms larger and larger with each passing season: Who will control the Arctic? Learn more about your ad-choices at https://news.iheart.com/podcast-advertisers

Love them or hate them, protests are as American as apple pie. Each year thousands of people exercise their right to free speech and assembly, often to publicly denounce a policy, project or phenomenon. This is entirely legal, so long as the protestors have the right permits and things don't turn violent. However, many veteran protestors will tell you there's more going on behind the scenes. Most protestors, they argue, don't want things to devolve into physical conflict. However, those people wearing facemasks, throwing bricks and antagonizing the police aren't part of the actual gathering... instead, they're agents of something much more sinister. Tune in to learn more about how protests get infiltrated and compromised. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://news.iheart.com/podcast-advertisers

On January 2, 1935, a man checked into room 1046 at the Hotel President in Kansas City. He gave his name as Roland T. Owen, and listed his a home address in Los Angeles. Later, he was found brutally beaten, exhibiting signs of torture. He passed away shortly thereafter... and there the mystery begins. Roland, you see, was a fake name used by one Artemus Ogletree, from Birmingham, Alabama. Join the guys as they unravel the strange, twisting story of Artemus Ogletree's murder. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://news.iheart.com/podcast-advertisers

Four centuries before Columbus reached the western hemisphere, Cahokia was a prosperous pre-American city with a population similar to London’s. In fact, it was probably the largest North American city north of Mexico at that time. While Cahokia was a major population centre around AD1050, by 1350 it was largely abandoned by its people – and, even today, no one is sure why. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://news.iheart.com/podcast-advertisers

Washington, D.C. is home to numerous organizations and institutions created to broker deals and funnel power from one place (or policy) to another. Many of these organizations operate more or less openly, while others pride themselves on their discretion and ability to stay out of the public eye. The Family is one of the latter -- a secretive group founded in 1935 as a religiously-motivated movement to bring its interpretation of Christianity to the halls of Congress and beyond. But what exactly is the Family? More importantly, what exactly are they up to? Join the guys as they peer behind the curtain. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://news.iheart.com/podcast-advertisers

In Malay folklore, the Orang Minyak is an supernaturally agile, humanoid creature coated in an oily, slippery substance. It is primarily known for abducting young women at night. There are other, similar creatures in folkloric beliefs across the planet -- boogeymen meant to warn children against disobeying their parents or social mores. But something about the Orang Minyak is different: Since the 1950s, it's been a prime suspect in numerous assaults and attempted crimes, with authorities and bystanders both claiming there was something supernatural about these crimes. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://news.iheart.com/podcast-advertisers

If you met a person from the year 1019, they would be, in many ways, much like you. But what if you met a person from 3019? How different will human beings be one thousand years from today? Will humanity as we understand still be around? Join the guys with special guests John Goforth and Brent Hand, hosts of Hysteria 51, as they explore the strange twists and turns the future may hold for our species... assuming, of course, that we survive. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://news.iheart.com/podcast-advertisers

The Panama Papers are a collection of over 11 million leaked documents exposing shady financial dealings from more than 200,000 offshore entities, some dating as far back as the 1970s. When Maltese journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia began connecting the dots between corruption in her home country and information in the Panama Papers, she may have finally crossed a line organized crime wasn't willing to tolerate -- in October of 2017, she was killed by a car bomb outside of her home. Today, the murder remains officially unsolved. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://news.iheart.com/podcast-advertisers

Playwright William Shakespeare is widely acknowledged as one of the most influential writers in the English language, and his plays have been read or performed millions of times around the world. He was also quite prolific: Between about 1590 and 1613, Shakespeare wrote at least 37 plays and collaborated on several more. Yet for more than a century various researchers known collectively as anti-Stratfordians have argued that Shakespeare didn't actually write some -- or all -- of his work. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://news.iheart.com/podcast-advertisers

It's no secret that the border between the United States and Mexico has been the subject of recent, intensely divisive debate. There have been numerous reports (some more reliable than others) detailing the rise or decline of crime along the border -- after all, chaotic times create opportunities for crime -- but one story slipped through the cracks. It appears that there was an active serial killer on the US border, and he worked for Uncle Sam. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://news.iheart.com/podcast-advertisers

Have you given the guys a call lately? If so, tune in: You just might be on the air. Join the gang as they respond to some of your fellow listeners' most intriguing -- and in some cases, strangest -- calls. Want to be part of the next one? Just give us a ring at 1-833-STDWYTK. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://news.iheart.com/podcast-advertisers

What if you could travel outside your body at will, sending your consciousness across the planet and beyond? While it may sound like a tale of science fiction to some, the phenomenon known as remote viewing was the subject intense government scrutiny for years. Join the guys as they interview physicist and author Russell Targ, creator of the new film Third Eye Spies, to learn more about his experience researching remote viewing, his work with the government, the future of remote viewing and more. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://news.iheart.com/podcast-advertisers

Higher education offers millions of people the opportunity to pursue their dreams and make meaningful contributions to civilization -- but it often doesn't come cheap. At $1.5 trillion, the student loan debt in the United States alone is worth more than the value of Facebook and Microsoft combined. So how did we get here? Why do so many people believe the government and private financial interests have conspired to put people under the thumb of life-long, crippling debt? And, perhaps most disturbingly, what will happen if the debt bubble bursts? Learn more about your ad-choices at https://news.iheart.com/podcast-advertisers

Have you given the guys a call lately? If so, tune in: You just might be on the air. Join the gang as they respond to some of your fellow listeners' most intriguing -- and in some cases, strangest -- calls. Want to be part of the next one? Just give us a ring at 1-833-STDWYTK. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://news.iheart.com/podcast-advertisers

On Thursday, February 5, 1987, two men were arrested on suspicion of kidnapping six children and transporting them to Tallahassee, Florida. While the children were reportedly filthy and hungry, initial reports of abuse didn’t hold up. The mothers confirmed they knew the men, and the charges were eventually dropped. But this isn’t how the story ends -- instead, this is where the story of the Finders cult begins. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://news.iheart.com/podcast-advertisers

Belief in supernatural, divine beings like angels dates back into antiquity and occurs throughout numerous religions. Even in the modern day, numerous Americans are convinced that angels (or something like them) exist and intervene in human affairs. So, outside of anecdotes and personal opinion, is there any proof these creatures exist? To one enormously influential scientist, magician and philosopher, Angels left one indisputable proof of their existence: A secret language, predating humanity -- one with the power to reveal the secrets of the universe. Listen in to learn more about Enochian language and John Dee. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://news.iheart.com/podcast-advertisers

Smart phones have fundamentally changed the world -- at times, it's difficult to imagine life without one of these handy computers. There's a world of people you can call, a universe of information at your fingertips and millions of specialized programs to make everyday life that much easier. In fact, it sounds too good to be true... and, according to some critics, that might just be the case. So how do we separate the fact from fiction when it comes to smart phones and cancer? Learn more about your ad-choices at https://news.iheart.com/podcast-advertisers

The Black Panther Party For Self-defense was founded in Oakland, California in 1966 by Huey Newton and Bobby Seale. They originally wanted to protect local residents from police brutality. One prominent Black Panther activist, Fred Hampton, was killed during an FBI/Chicago Police Force raid on December 4th, 1969. Officially speaking, his death was an unfortunate accident. However, 50 years later multiple scholars, journalists and historians believe there’s more to the story. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://news.iheart.com/podcast-advertisers

The nation of China recently made international news by successfully completing an unmanned landing on the far side of Earth’s moon, marking a pivotal point in the resurgent space race. So why do some observers believe there’s more to the story? Learn more about your ad-choices at https://news.iheart.com/podcast-advertisers

It's true that romance and relationships in general are a minefield for almost everyone -- but for a group of people who call themselves incels, there's an active conspiracy running against them. Short for 'involuntarily celibate', this group has generated huge amounts of controversy with with incitement of violence, encouragement of sexual assault, and militant misogyny that one could easily mistake for trolling. Join the guys as they explore the origins, growth and devolution of the incel movement -- including what happens when internet conversations result in real-world catastrophe. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://news.iheart.com/podcast-advertisers

Death is one of humanity's great unifiers. Before the dawn of recorded history our species and others like it venerated, feared and honored the dead. The practice of commemorating our loved ones continues today -- and it's become a big business. Join the guys as they delve deeper into the fact, fiction and controversy of the funeral industry to determine whether or not a secret monopoly is at play. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://news.iheart.com/podcast-advertisers

In recent history more and more analysts have been concerned about the rise of privately-owned, multinational corporations wielding the type of geopolitical power once relegated to states and nations. These concerns usually name drop the best known large companies, such as Nestle, Unilever, Halliburton and so on -- but many more companies operate just as effectively in relative obscurity. Tune in to learn more about the controversies surrounding the prestigious and murky world of the global management consulting group McKinsey and Company, an organization so powerful it's often referred to as, simply, "the Firm". Learn more about your ad-choices at https://news.iheart.com/podcast-advertisers

On November 11, 2018, seismologists began puzzling over a weird low-frequency rumble that rang through the entire planet. The wave wasn’t connected to any known events, and scientists remain mystified by the mysterious phenomenon. Join the guys as the explore the theories behind the world’s weirdest earthquake. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://news.iheart.com/podcast-advertisers

Join the guys as they explore more strange and mysterious cases of famous lost grave sites — some of which were lost on purpose. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://news.iheart.com/podcast-advertisers

In an earlier episode, the guys delved into the modern mystery of Genghis Khan's hidden grave, and found he was far from the only famous historical figure lost to secrecy and the inevitable march of time. Travel with the gang as they unravel more stories of humanity's famous lost tombs, hidden corpses and more in the first part of this two-part series. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://news.iheart.com/podcast-advertisers

You can find phrases touting "natural" flavoring on products throughout most modern supermarkets, from beverages to cereal to more -- but what exactly does this mean? Join the guys as they delve into the fact (and fiction) surrounding the use of "natural" in advertising... and why there might be more to the story than you think. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://news.iheart.com/podcast-advertisers

Also known as the Security Service, MI5 is the United Kingdom's domestic counter-intelligence and security agency, dealing with threats inside the kingdom. However, recent revelations have shown that, in some cases, the organization may have helped to aid and abet some crimes in the course of (theoretically) preventing others. Tune in to learn more about the morally grey world of covert operations and MI5. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://news.iheart.com/podcast-advertisers

Jeffrey Epstein made a name for himself as a mysterious money manager with friends in very high places, from Bill Clinton to Donald Trump, British royalty and more. His firm refused to do business with anyone worth less than one billion dollars, and Epstein traveled the globe, often throwing exclusive parties on his own private island. Yet this jet-setting money whiz was also dogged by rumors -- rumors of ongoing sexual abuse with multiple victims. At least some of these rumors turned out to be true. Any other person would have spent years in jail ...so why is Jeffrey Epstein walking free today? Tune in to learn more. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://news.iheart.com/podcast-advertisers

Join Ben and Matt as they interview Aaron Mahnke, the creator of the world-famous Lore podcast, about Unobscured, the new series where he dives deep into the true story of the Salem witch trials. How many people were tried? How many actually died? What does Hollywood get wrong and, perhaps most importantly, was there something the people of Salem didn't want future generations to know? Learn more about your ad-choices at https://news.iheart.com/podcast-advertisers

Regardless of how you feel about one conspiracy or another, there’s no denying that 2018 was chock-full of insane allegations (and some disturbingly true stories). Join the guys as they look back on little-known stories from the past year, as well as updates and predictions for the cover-ups, conspiracies and allegations of 2019. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://news.iheart.com/podcast-advertisers

Chances are that you've heard of the alleged war on Christmas, which some believe is an effort to distance the celebration from its origins. But what are those origins, exactly -- and where do modern Christmas traditions come from? Tune in to learn more. Join Ben and Matt as they delve into some of the murky origins of what we call Christmas in today's classic episode. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://news.iheart.com/podcast-advertisers

How long do humans have left on Earth? As species go, humanity has had a brief, incredibly transformative run here on Earth. We've mined resources, farmed food, hunted animals, built cities and polluted ecosystems across the globe. There's no denying we've also made tremendous technological breakthroughs -- but could some of those same innovations ultimately become the agents of our collective demise? Join the guys as they interview Stuff You Should Know cohost Josh Clark about the science behind his newest podcast, The End Of The World. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://news.iheart.com/podcast-advertisers

Out of all the states in the Union, it seems like Florida is home to the craziest shenanigans. Every few days another story about a weird, madcap crime in the Sunshine state makes the circuit in mass media, and it’s created a nationwide stereotype about the state and its residents. But how did we get here? Is there any truth to the bizarre stereotype? Learn more about your ad-choices at https://news.iheart.com/podcast-advertisers

When controversial transhumanism activist and erstwhile CEO Aaron Traywick was found dead in a sensory deprivation tank on April 29th, 2018, many of his critics and colleagues suspected there was more to his death than an apparently accidental ketamine overdose. Was there foul play? Suicide? Pseudocide? Listen in to learn more about the life, times and mysterious death of Aaron Traywick. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://news.iheart.com/podcast-advertisers

In 2007, a new father in the small Czech town of Kurim installed a baby monitor only to find that, instead of picking up the feed from his own home, he was receiving a camera signal from his neighbors’ house. The feed showed two young, filthy boys locked in a cellar, being tortured. This was only the beginning of the strange and twisted tale of the Kurim cult. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://news.iheart.com/podcast-advertisers

Did a race of red-haired, not-quite-human, cannibalistic giants really terrorize the Paiute people in ancient America? For a long time, according to the story, this tale was thought to be little more than a piece of imaginative folklore -- until, that is, the fall of 1911, when guano miners stumbled upon a thousands of artifacts hidden in a mysterious cave just outside of Lovelock, Nevada. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://news.iheart.com/podcast-advertisers

Located just a few miles away from Alice Springs, Australia, Pine Gap is known as one of the country's hotbeds of surveillance and secrecy -- but what exactly goes on there? What is it these over 800 Australian and U.S. employees do every day? Join the guys as they delve into the fact and fiction surrounding Australia's Pine Gap. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://news.iheart.com/podcast-advertisers

Non-stick pans are incredibly convenient -- they save hours of time, and make cooking less labor-intensive. Some might say the technology sounds too good to be true! As it turns out, that just might be the case. Tune in to learn how 3M, DuPont and other corporate entities conspired (for decades) to suppress research indicating serious medical dangers posed by Teflon and related substances. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://news.iheart.com/podcast-advertisers

Spies aren't just relegated to the Cold War and James Bond -- in fact, spycraft played a crucial role in the Revolutionary War. One of the government's most effective spies was so accomplished that, even in the modern day, their identity remains a mystery. Join the guys as they unravel the strange story of the enigmatic Agent 355. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://news.iheart.com/podcast-advertisers

The recent film Above Majestic looks at the origins, history and conspiracies behind the "Majestic 12," an alleged, secret group of military and corporate figureheads charged with reverse-engineering extraterrestrial technology. Join the guys as they interview the creator of the film, David Wilcock, about his theories, his beliefs, and the experiences that inspired him to create the film. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://news.iheart.com/podcast-advertisers

Nestlé is the world's largest food and beverage company, and it's no surprise that an entity this large would, at some point over the decades, become embroiled in a controversy or two. However, according to critics and numerous advocacy groups, Nestlé has a dark side that goes far beyond the occasional ethical misstep. Join the guys and special guest Lauren Vogelbaum, host of Savor, as they unravel the story of Nestlé's cover-ups and conspiracies. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://news.iheart.com/podcast-advertisers

What should people be allowed to say online? What sort of control should states or private entities have over images, concepts, speeches and other content created by individuals, groups or the public? Join the guys as they explore the controversial phenomenon of censorship, from moments where it's arguably necessary to times where censorship functions as conspiracy or cover-up -- ultimately asking how censorship works in the future. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://news.iheart.com/podcast-advertisers

From the secret signs of homeless communities to Toynbee tiles, the world of advertisement and even the US dollar, the world is chock-full of hidden signs, languages and symbols. Recently, the guys hit the road, traveling across the northeast and exploring these secret images on their first live tour. Tune in to learn more about the strange world of hobo code, the weird images on US currency and the murky origins of the Federal Reserve. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://news.iheart.com/podcast-advertisers

When most people hear the phrase "concentration camp" we immediately think of the atrocities of World War II. Sadly, that's not the end of the story. Despite global efforts to cover up the existence of detainment, re-education and concentration camps, the practice of detaining, capturing and torturing groups of people continues in the modern day. Listen in to learn the stuff they don't want you to know about modern, secret detainment camps. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://news.iheart.com/podcast-advertisers

Music is one of the first human languages, and today it's also a multi-billion dollar industry. Each year, multitudes of would-be superstars pour blood, sweat, cash and tears into their dream of making it big on the public stage. So what sets the successful music stars apart from the rest? Why do certain songs get played more than others? Who really writes them? Join the guys as they explore the truth behind the speaker, and hunt down the people who control the music you hear. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://news.iheart.com/podcast-advertisers

Stubborn, determined and tenacious, Gary Webb was the quintessential investigative journalist. In his work for a newspaper called The Mercury News, Gary explored the relationship between right-wing revolutionary Contras in Nicaragua, the crack cocaine epidemic in the United States, and the actions of the Central Intelligence Agency. While the series was published, multiple mainstream newspapers joined together to write editorials criticizing him, and ultimately his own editors turned on him, as well. Gary Webb later died from two gunshots to the head. This was officially deemed a suicide, and there's no wonder people think there's more to the story. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://news.iheart.com/podcast-advertisers

Depending on who you ask, voter fraud is a widespread threat to the U.S. democratic system or a piece of "fake news". How often are people fraudulently voting? Is there really a cover-up or conspiracy to corrupt the vote? Join Ben and Matt as they explore the strange, murky world of voter and election fraud. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://news.iheart.com/podcast-advertisers

DARPA is the source of numerous astonishing technological innovations — as well as some terrifying ones, and often the research associated with this organization remains under wraps for years. However, it’s possible to make some pretty good guesses about what DARPA has up its sleeve for the future, even when it’s the stuff they don’t want you to know. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://news.iheart.com/podcast-advertisers

The rise of the Internet Age allowed billions of people to access virtually endless stores of information, but it had a dark side -- one of which was the rise of a new kind of army: Groups that used viruses and software the way other militaries use missiles, spies and bombs. Join the guys as they explore the rise of the mysterious entity known as GhostNet -- what it did, how it got away with it, and why no one's been able to stop it. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://news.iheart.com/podcast-advertisers

YouTube is huge — as you’re reading this sentence, millions of people are clicking through videos to watch their favorite celebrities, learn new skills, listen to music and more. Yet there’s more to this platform than the casual viewer might suspect. Tune in as the guys explore the strange, hidden mechanics governing what YouTube wants you to watch, and why. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://news.iheart.com/podcast-advertisers

Among all the continents of Earth, Antarctica remains both the most inhospitable and the most mysterious. Today the only humans on the landmass are researchers and their support staff, charged with studying climate change, the local ecosystem and the unique creatures that call the freezing, ice-riddled continent home. Yet for centuries various researchers have argued there's more to the history of Antarctica -- that, before it was ever 'officially discovered', Antarctica was home to a long-forgotten civilization, the existence of which could fundamentally rewrite the story of human history. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://news.iheart.com/podcast-advertisers

On October 6th, 1993, living legend Michael Jordan shocked the world when he abruptly announced his retirement from the Chicago Bulls. Was the world's most famous basketball player really just tired of the game? In the days, months and years following Jordan's retirement, rumors began to spread, claiming there was more -- much more -- to the official story. Join the guys as they welcome special guests Jacquis Neal and Edgar Momplaisir, the hosts of Culture Kings, to separate the fact from fiction and explore the real reason why Michael Jordan decided (or was forced) to retire. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://news.iheart.com/podcast-advertisers

Does someone have real-life superspeed? Can people telepathically control machines? When the guys originally began investigating real-life superpowers, they had no idea how many extraordinary abilities they would end up discovering. Tune in for the superpower sequel, with all new powers (and a few abilities that might be more like a curse). Learn more about your ad-choices at https://news.iheart.com/podcast-advertisers